What is arterial hypertension? The answer to this question is known to many people, especially the elderly. As you know, this is a persistent increase in blood pressure, in which indicators such as 150/90 mm Hg are noted. Art. and higher.
It is generally accepted that arterial hypertension is the most common disease of the cardiovascular system. A persistent increase in blood pressure is observed in 25-30% of the adult population. By the way, with age, such a disease is observed in 55-65% of people.
Why does arterial hypertension occur? This phenomenon can develop due to many reasons. Most often, in older people, the pressure rises due to psycho-emotional overstrain. Therefore, persons prone to hypertension should be as calm as possible.
It cannot be said that such a disease often arises as a result of a sedentary lifestyle, age, gender (more often among representatives of the weaker half of humanity), excessive consumption of sodium chloride, a low calcium diet, alcohol abuse, heredity, obesity, smoking, diabetes and etc.
Is hypertension necessary to be treated? Doctors say that if you feel unwell, the patient should definitely take medications that lower blood pressure. One of them includes a medication such as Amlodipine. Side effects of this tool, its features, cost and analogues are indicated below.
Description of the drug, its composition and packaging
In what form is the medicine “Amlodipine” made, the price of which is presented below? The drug in question is produced in the form of white tablets and a flat-cylindrical shape. Its active ingredient is amlodipine.
This drug is sold in contour cells (10 tablets each), which are packaged in cardboard packaging.
The mechanism of action of the drug
Why is Amlodipine Good? According to the instructions, this drug exhibits pronounced antihypertensive and antianginal properties. In addition, it prevents calcium ions from penetrating through the membranes into vascular cells and myocardial cells.
What is Amlodipine Medication? What does this medicine help from? It well reduces high blood pressure. This is due to the ability of the drug to dilate blood vessels.
It should also be noted that the drug in question exhibits an antianginal effect. This property of the drug is provided by its active element. Doctors report that amlodipine not only dilates arterioles (peripheral), but also reduces OPSS. Moreover, the ingredient does not cause tachycardia (reflex).
What is the result of using Amlodipine? What does this remedy help with? Thanks to this drug, the human heart begins to consume much less energy and the oxygen demand of the myocardium is markedly reduced.
Kinetic features of the drug
The drug "Amlodipine" from pressure (increased) is absorbed from the intestine very slowly, but in full. The peak concentration of its active component in the blood is reached after 8.5 hours. The binding of the drug to plasma proteins is approximately 98%.
The drug "Amlodipine", whose action is aimed at lowering the pressure, undergoes minimal metabolism. In this case, derivatives are formed that have insignificant pharmacological activity. The drug is metabolized when passing through the liver.
The average elimination half-life of amlodipine and its derivatives is 36 hours. With very high blood pressure, this time can increase up to two days, in the elderly - up to 66 hours, and with liver dysfunction - up to 58 hours.
The drug is excreted in the form of metabolites through the intestines and kidneys.
Amlodipine preparation: what helps?
In what cases can the medication in question be prescribed to the patient? Indications for taking this tool are the following conditions:
- stable angina pectoris;
- vasoconstriction or vasospasm;
- vasospastic angina pectoris;
- arterial hypertension (as monotherapy and in combination with other drugs);
- dilated non-ischemic cardiomyopathy.
In what other cases can the drug Amlodipine be recommended? What does this medicine help with? It is often prescribed along with antianginal medications, including patients who are immune to treatment with beta-blockers or nitrates.
Prohibitions for taking the drug
Now you know why patients are prescribed Amlodipine tablets. Indications for this medication are listed above.
As for contraindications, the use of this medication is prohibited for arterial hypotension. In addition, it is not recommended for use in minors, as well as in the presence of hypersensitivity to its ingredients.
How should I take the drug "Amlodipine"?
Analogs, the price of this medicine is indicated below.
The agent in question is intended for oral administration. The dosage of this drug is calculated by the doctor, depending on the condition of the patient.
For patients with hypertension (arterial) and angina pectoris, the minimum dose of this medication per day is 5 mg. If required, then in the future this amount can be increased exactly twice, that is, brought up to 10 mg per day.
In the treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy, this medication is recommended to be taken in a dose of 2.5 mg. With good tolerability of the drug, its amount can be increased four times.
According to experts, exceeding the recommended dosage of the drug (more than 10 mg per day) is highly not recommended, as this can lead to the development of undesirable effects.
Reception of "Amlodipine" together with beta-blockers, diuretics (thiazide) and ACE inhibitors does not require dosage adjustment.
Side effects
How is Amlodipine medication tolerated by patients? Side effects of this drug are practically absent. However, in some cases (for example, in case of non-compliance with the dosages), it can still cause:
- tachycardia, gingival hyperplasia, hyperemia, drowsiness;
- arrhythmia, nausea, palpitations, headache, shortness of breath;
- sharp abdominal pain, peripheral edema, fatigue;
- arterial hypotension, rash, paresthesia, itching, dizziness.
It should also be noted that with prolonged use of the tablets in question, the patient may experience pain in the limbs.
Cases of drug overdose
There is currently no evidence of cases of overdose with this medication. Although doctors suggest that when taking a large amount of the drug, patients may experience severe adverse reactions.
Drug interaction
Is Amlodipine medication allowed to take with other drugs? Instructions, reviews of experts claim that the hypotensive effect of this drug is enhanced if it is combined with calcium channel blockers. A similar result is expected when using funds intended for inhalation anesthesia, and orlistat. By the way, such combinations can provoke even a hypertensive crisis.
A decrease in the antihypertensive effect and sodium retention in the human body are observed when taking Amlodimpin tablets with estrogens and sympathomimetics.
The development of symptoms of neurotoxicity, such as tinnitus, nausea, ataxia, vomiting and diarrhea, is caused by the simultaneous administration of amlodipine and lithium carbonate.
The parallel use of the drug in question and Indomethacin, as well as other NSAIDs, reduces the antihypertensive effect of the former.
Breastfeeding and pregnancy
The safety of Amlodipine during pregnancy has not been studied. The same applies to lactation. In this regard, the mentioned drug in such provisions should be used only if the risk to the child is significantly less than the health benefits of the mother.
General recommendations for taking the drug
The instruction accompanying the tablets states that they should be taken with extreme caution in case of impaired liver and kidney function, as well as for stenosis of the aortic orifice.
Adjusting the dose of the drug, which was indicated above, is not required for older persons.
Amlodipine medication can be used to treat patients with a diagnosis such as dilated cardiomyopathy (non-ischemic), which is accompanied by heart failure (of a chronic nature).
Clinical studies on the use of the drug in pediatric practice have not been conducted.
Terms of sale and storage, implementation period
It is necessary to store this medication in a dark and dry place where the air temperature does not exceed 25 degrees, and where there is no access for small children.
This remedy is released without a medical prescription. According to the instructions, its shelf life is 24 months. After this period, taking the medicine is prohibited.
The cost of medication in pharmacies and similar means
How much do Amlodipine tablets cost? The price of this drug may be different, but in any case it is not very high. A medicine in a dosage of 10 mg costs about 55 rubles, and in a dose of 5 mg - about 35 rubles.
As mentioned above, arterial hypertension is a fairly common disease. Therefore, every year pharmaceutical companies produce more and more drugs designed to lower high blood pressure. By the way, there are many analogues in this tool. Doctors say that antihypertensive properties are characteristic of the following medications: “Agen”, “Tenox”, “Akridipin”, “Stamlo M”, “Adipin”, “Stamlo”, “Amlo”, “Normodipin”, “Amlodipine Sandoz”, “ Omelar Cardio ”,“ Vero-Amlodipine ”,“ Norvask ”,“ Amlodipin-Teva ”,“ Cordy Kor ”,“ Amlodak ”,“ Norvadin ”,“ Amlovas ”,“ Corvadil ”,“ Amlodigamma ”,“ Cardilopin ”,“ Amlodipine Alkaloid ”,“ Karmagip ”,“ Amlodil ”,“ Kulchek ”,“ Amlodipin Zentiva ”,“ Amlonorm ”,“ Amlodipin-Agio ”,“ Amlodip ”,“ Amlodipin Cardio ”,“ Amlorus ”,“ Amlodipharm ”,“ Amlodipine besilat ”,“ Amlong ”,“ Am Lokard-Sanovel ", etc.
Messages from patients and doctors
With age, an increasing number of people undergo a disease such as arterial hypertension. As you know, this phenomenon is characterized by the following symptoms: dizziness, excessive fatigue, headaches, weakness, darkening in the eyes, drowsiness, etc. According to experts, all of these symptoms disappear within a few hours after using the Amlodipine tablet in a dosage of 5 or 10 mg.
Doctors report that the drug in question is one of the fastest and most effective remedies. For a short period of time, it stabilizes the patient's blood pressure, and also significantly improves his general condition.
As for consumers, among the advantages of this tool, they note its convenient method of application and form. To reduce high blood pressure, the patient needs to take only one tablet. At the same time, doctors warn that an overdose of this medicine may contribute to the occurrence or intensification of adverse reactions. In this regard, they do not recommend consuming more than 10 mg of the drug per day.
It should be noted that a large number of consumers are pleased with the low price of the said product, as well as its availability in all pharmacies and the ability to replace with analogues.